1938-11-05 — Page 11

- THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 5, 1938.

BEHIND

THE

SCENES

The Drama In Europe: How Peace Was Saved

HELP FOR

POOR

Italy had been thoroughly shaken. From: German military quarters he

respecting the readiness of the

There is a general feeling of relief that peace But the Fuhrer's confidence in has gained the victory over war.

Millions of people had already become familiar had received pessimistic reports with the thought that in the immediate future gas Italian army to fight. Discouraging and incendiary bombs would start their work of destruction, and the relief was as if people had risen from their own graves.

and

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which for seventy-five years

Principles of international' law, has helped the poor of Hong

Czecho- the sovereignty of Kong without distinction of race or creed, is holding its Annual slovakia played only a minor role Bazaar to-morrow, the seventy-in the final negotiations. War had

to be averted at any price. fifth of the series.

to submit to This Bazaar is the chief source Czechoslovakia had of the Society's revenue, and every-the harshest demands which have thing gained from it is devoted to ever been dictated to a State in the help of the deserving poor, for times of peace. the Society has no paid helpers and

its members distribute relief to the

poor in their own homes.

to-

His Excellency the Governor has shown his appreciation of the So- ciety's efforts by consenting to per- form the opening ceremony morrow. He will be accompanied The Bazaar by Lady Northcote. is being held beside the Peninsula Hotel and the opening ceremony will. take place at 3. p. m.

The Bazaar will then continue open until

11 p. m. At night the grounds will be beautifully decorated.,

In addition to the usual features, this year's fete will provide many new attractions, and particular ef- forts have been made to cater for

So

This article, despatched from The Hague, records the in- fluence upon the dictators, at the height of the recent crisis, of disaffection towards war in Italy and Germany.

Everbody is still talking about had declared unequivocally that, in how everything happened and how the event of war, England would it could have happened. Only when, begin by "cleaning up" the Mediter- some day, the diplomatic and politi- ranean. cal archives are opened will the

historians then living be in a posi- tion to ascertain the full truth.

Was it Daladier or Chamberlain who took the initiative for the four- Power conference?

There is one thing which the in-

Furthermore, numerous reports by the Fascist secret service in- dicated that the people did not wish to hear anything about a war, and Signor Mussolini feels almost in- stinctively

masses.

what animates

the

reports were received from Austria; the peasants in the Tirol refused

to observe the mobilisation order, and had to be dragged to the re- cruiting bureaux by force.

For all these reasons, the repre- sentatives of the great general staff made it clear that with the mobilisa- tion of the British Fleet, the French preliminary mobilisation, and the Russian preparedness to go to war, - Germany ran a serious risk of de- feat, and that it would be wiser for Herr Hitler to be satisfied with what he could get without discharg- ing a single rifle.

There could be no question of an occupation of Prague, of which Hitler had dreamed as a necessary and comparatively easy operation, or of the immediate and complete destruction of Czechoslovakia.

GROWING DOUBTS

The Duce was doubtless glad that

The conference at Munich was itiated can say already that M. he could go to Hitler with sugges-the salvation of peace. As it was Daladier at the last moment sug-tions simultaneously with the Bri- hastily improvised, the statesmen intervention. After having and their most important assistants gested to the British Prime Minis-tigh ter that a meeting of the respon- sung the praises of war, it appear had to manage for themselves in all sible statesmen from both camps ed to the Duce that the time come sorts of ways. What was usually should be held, to which Mr. Cham- to adorn himself with the wings of done by experts and secretaries Ifad barlain replied that he had also the angel of peace.

to be done at Munich by the Minis- considered such a possibility.

ters and their co-delegates them- selves.

Meanwhile something similar had It is claimed that Mr. Chamber-happened on the other side of the lain said to M. Daladier: "If you Alps. What the Gestapo, with its agree, I will approach Mussolini thousands and thousands of "re- and ask for his intervention."

porters," had to say about the feel- ings of the German people left no ITALO-GERMAN DOUBTS

doubt whatever that the masses did

No opinions were exchanged dur ing the Munich discussions about a politics. other probléma of world Only the German-Czechoslovakian conflict and the Sudeten problem were dealt with.

those who wish to enjoy themselves and to support the charity but at the same time cannot afford to spend much money. There are amusements to suit all purses and prizes are liberal and worth win- ning. Admission to the Bazaar When this telephone conversa-not want a war.

Hitler's eyes were opened when, There were moments of tension costs 10 cents, and the admission tion took place between London and ticket entitles the holder to parti- Paris, Sir Horace Wilson, Mr. Cham- on the evening of September 27, be- when Mr. Chamberlain rose and cipate in a free draw for an all-wave berlain's special envoy, whose Ger-hind the windows of the Chan- said things which affected Hitler's man sympathies are not unknown cellery in Berlin during the march- nerves, whereas the Fuhrer had lis- in diplomatic quarters, had inform past of the Sudeten Germans, he tened attentively and very quietly ed his Government from Berlin waited for the first time in vain for to the statements by Daladier and that Herr Hitler had decided to the acclamations and shouts of the Mussolini,

mobilisation people, which would have been

wireless set.

proclaim a genera a military in the signal for him to appear, as berlain considered it necessary to

vasion

:

Probably this is why Mr. Cham- have a private conversation. with Herr Hitler after the official discus- sion.

Europe now awaits the sequel to the story. The cheers with which the Ministers who returned from Munich were welcomed in Paris and London have already been followed by growing doubts.

ANOMALIES IN NEW ARMY LIST

of Czechoslovakia would usual, on the balcony and receive Many unavoidable anomalies fellow soon.

the homage of the crowd.

There was not a trace of en- are revealed in the latest Army Because Paris, London, and Mos-

thusiasm. The windows" remained List as a result of the simul cow were determined to reply to a taneous promotion of 2,500 young German invasion of Czechoslovakia closed. officers under the reforms reby military action, war seemed

GERMAN MISGIVINGS cently instituted by the Secre-close at hand. tary for War, Mr. Hore-Belisha. Then Mr. Chamberlain decided to

Next day the Fuhrer learned that Most noticeable is the large in mobilise the British Fleet, and to Count Ciano had notified Lord Perth crease in the number of majors. propose a four-Power conference formerly Sir Eric Drummond Some regiments have more to Hitler. Mussolini, as a result unequivocally that, in the event of

Anti-Aircraft firing practice will majors than captains. The of the British intervention, advis-war, Italy would immediately side Worcestershire Regt. has 25 ed Hitler to agree to the proposal, with Germany, because she con- be carried out from the vicinity of majors instead of the normal and the Fuhrer was able to explain sidered herself committed by her Tai Wah Tau (near Clear Water eight, and 18 captains. Six his affirmative reply by pointing own interests and her word pledged Bay) between the hours of 9.00 am. captains are employed outside out that he wished to oblige his to Germany.

and 6.00 p.my to-day. the regiment, leaving seven in-great friend, Mussolini. stead of the normal 14 for the As a matter of fact, there were two battalions.

serious incidents behind the scenes

ད་

Regiments, however, cannot in Italy and Germany. be said to suffer any disadvan- In Italy, the King (perhaps un- tages. There are majors doing der the Influence of the Prine of work which usually devolves on Piedmont and his wife, the sister captains. Although they are of King Leopold) had notified the not carrying the responsibility of Duce that he did not désire a mo- their rank, they receive higher bilisation. Y

pay. DE

Simultaneously, the representa- The eight or so majors who tives of the Italian general staff. now head the regimental lists, pointed out to the Duce that neither failing promotion, will automati the army nor the people were ready cally go on the retired list on for a war, and that in the event of reaching the age of 47. Some an armed confict there would soon of these officers have only one be a shortage of ammunition, year to serve, before reaching the

THE BRITISH FLEET age limit. · Mest senior majórs will have retired in about five They also pointed out that the years' time, but, in spite of ac- presence of nearly fifty British war- celerated promotion, it will take ships in the eastern Mediterranean a little longer before regiments should induce Italy to move cau- absorb their surplus officers. tiously, the more so because London.

•

Here's Luck!

EWO

BEER